The first seizure happened about a year ago. I was in the living room, watching TV with my brother, when we heard a few loud thumps. We didn’t think much of it until my mom came down the stairs crying and told us that our older sister, Abbey, who has cerebral palsy, was having a seizure. It wasn’t the first time she had one. It was just the first one that I was old enough to remember.  My brother and I looked at each other, a little confused and unsure of how to react.

My mom or dad must have called 911 because after we had stood there for a few minutes, the police and ambulance arrived and took Abbey to the hospital. I was still trying to process what was happening. I was scared, but I was grateful that I didn’t have to be in the room when the seizure occurred. My parents brought Abbey home a day or two later, and on a doctor’s recommendation, her medications were resumed, since she had been off of them for a few years.

The second seizure was around four months ago. However, it wasn’t Abbey this time. It was my six-year-old sister, Ellie, who also has cerebral palsy. I was talking to my parents in the living room when all of a sudden, Ellie started to tense up and had a half-confused, half-terrified look on her face. My parents knew what to do, since they had received training to effectively respond to seizures. They immediately jumped into action to make sure that Ellie was safe until the seizure subsided. Ellie had what was called petit mal, a less severe seizure. Abbey’s, on the other hand, was a grand mal, which results in a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions.  When it was over, and my parents had put Ellie to bed, I remained frozen. I couldn’t think about anything else. Seeing my little 6-year-old sister convulse while I was unable to assist her, rocked me to my core. I felt as if I was unable to function properly for nearly a week afterward because all I could think about was Ellie’s little body shaking on the living room floor.

Ellie’s latest seizure, about a month ago, was a grand mal. It was again in the living room. I was prepared for this one, though.  While it was still frightening, I remained calm. This time, it took me only a day or two to recover from the experience. The worst part of those two days, however, was waiting for Ellie to come home from the hospital.  The doctors kept her under their care, so that they could better understand why she was having controlled seizures. They ultimately decided to adjust her medications, just as they had for Abbey. 

My sisters will likely continue to experience seizures, which concerns me. Yet, I now know how to respond, and I can remain calm in the event that another seizure occurs. The sight of a seizure will never be any easier for me to witness. However, now I am better equipped to help people who suffer from seizures in a situation when no one else can.  I can also support those who struggle to cope following a medical emergency or other hardship in life, which ultimately takes courage.

© Jayden. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.